Services

At Eastside Dog and Cat Hospital we pride ourselves on keeping up with the latest
technology to better serve you and your pets. We were one of the first clinics in the
country performing laser surgery and have been doing so for the past nine years. The
principal behind laser surgery is to reduce pain and bleeding at the time of surgery as
well as to reduce postoperative swelling and pain. This allows for faster recovery time.
We recently acquired a state-of-the-art Therapeutic Laser Unit. This laser works at
a different wavelength and frequency than a surgical laser. It is not used not for
surgery, but rather to decrease swelling, inflammation and promote healing. We have
found it to be especially useful for treating pets with chronic arthritis, disc disease,
wound healing, and soft tissue injuries. There are no side effects with this procedure
and it can be done on an outpatient basis right in our office. Some of the medications
that we need to use to treat these conditions may have side effects, and by using the
Therapeutic Laser it may allow us to reduce or in some cases eliminate the need for
these medications.

Heartworm disease has always been recognized as a serious and potentially
life-threatening disease in dogs. Research is now showing this is also the case in cats.
In the past we have not recommended that cats be protected against heartworm
disease, but recent studies have shown that even though the cat is not the normal
host for heartworm they can be infected and die from this disease. The clinical signs
in cats are different than in dogs and are associated with more acute respiratory signs
such as coughing, gagging, difficulty breathing and sudden death. Heartworm Associated
Respiratory Disease or HARD as it is now referred to, is thought to be one of the
underlying causes of asthma in cats. It occurs equally in indoor and outdoor cats.
Current recommendations are that all cats be on year-round prevention. Due to the
difficulty of getting cats to take oral medication, we recommend a topical medication
called Revolution, which is applied once a month and also has the added benefit of flea
and intestinal parasite control.

Dental disease is a vital concern in cats and dogs. Periodontal disease cannot only lead
to infection, pain and loss of teeth but can affect other organs in the body as well,
especially the heart, liver and kidneys. Routine dental cleanings help to maintain the
overall health of your pet. We recommend dental x-rays to further assess animals
during these procedures when indicated as most disease is not seen visually and is
under the gum line. We have a state-of-the-art dental x-ray machine and dental unit
that allow us to provide the best and most complete dental care available for your pets.

Please do not hesitate to call or schedule an appointment to discuss any questions or
concerns you may have.